Comfort food? Maybe not.

“There is no more useful and rewarding exercise than to spend time in your own kitchen preparing your own meals.”-Ronovan

Last week I got to thinking about comfort foods. I’m not certain if that was because I’m on a no or at least very little processed foods nutrition lifestyle right now or not.

This past weekend I did an indulgence day and ate something, I can’t remember what, I know bread was involved and some sort of sweet.

Oh, I’ve stayed off sweets as well with this new lifestyle.

I’m glad I indulged.

I ate those foods Saturday and had a Diet Rite drink and very shortly afterwards my body was complaining. It didn’t like the chemically formulated drink, or the run to Google to research ingredient meanings processed foods.

The entire week I’d been on my new nutrition lifestyle I had no problems at all with anything. Well, except for maybe being a little hungry at times because my body was growing accustomed to a little less food and no bad foods it seemed to like before. Yep, IT was craving, and oddly, I was not. I was perfectly happy with my foods.

Of course I began to think about those comfort foods and how they are called ‘comfort’ foods. Yeah, they feel good going down and taste great. They give you emotional well being. And then, Boom!

“Part of the secret of a success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.”-Mark Twain

I think that quote from old Sam somewhat says it like it is. Especially the last part. Our foods are fighting it out inside of us, but usually it is with us, not with each other.

Maya Angelou was pretty close with her thoughts on comfort food, especially for those of us in the South.

“The best comfort food will always be greens, cornbread, and fried chicken.”-Maya Angelou

I can still taste my Maw Maw’s fried chicken, you know the kind where you have the big cast iron skillet, a lid and she stands there making sure it all turns out just right. Taking each piece off at the right time, ’cause she knows not every part needs to cook the same amount of time. And for a treat, the bacon grease from that morning was used instead of Crisco. If you’ve ever had that above combination, then you know at some point, not long afterwards, Mark Twain’s quote will inevitably come true.

If there is one celebrity in the world that could influence me to do anything it would have been Audrey Hepburn. Goddess of everything amazing. Well, she was that first classy, innocent but not woman I guess a lot of knew of, and actually believed from the movies. She wasn’t a sex kitten, or obvious, or even had the killer body of some of the time, and I think she proves what I consider about what sexy is. It’s what the woman has going on between the ears, that shows through her eyes and connects through your eyes and into your brain.

I do believe what Goddess Audrey says will be appreciated by a lot of people.

“Let’s face it, a nice creamy chocolate cake does a lot for a lot of people; it does for me.”-Audrey Hepburn

But again, Mark Twain wills out. Minor exceptions can be okay but beware. I think perhaps women don’t have as much problem with chocolate than men do for a reason. God gave the earth chocolate for women to enjoy, because God made the mistake of giving the earth man in the first place. Yes, it’s the one thing God may have gotten wrong the first time around and had to perfect the second time. The gloriousness that is woman was God’s do-over.

“There is no sincerer love than the love of food.”-George Bernard Shaw

This is perhaps my favorite quote here today. Notice the use of the word ‘food’. When you look at what you’re eating, is it food, or a science experiment prepackaged for ease of use? Did the person or team creating it where white lab coats or white aprons?

Don’t get me wrong, the stuff tastes good at times, but then you eat real, homemade food and you discover what Food is. When you eat a burger made at home and compare it to one made at McDonald’s you can see what I mean.

“But I need my salt because it’s a flavor enhancer.” If you need the food you are eating to be enhanced, then eat something else.

I know, there are times and situations that necessitate the eating of whatever is available, I’ve been there and I am not a food snob, Nazi. But if you can choose good, healthy, home cooked meals, then why not do it? If you can teach your kids now what food is, then why not do it?

“Get people back into the kitchen and combat the trend toward processed food and fast food.”-Andrew Weil

Ronovan is an author, and blogger who shares his life as an amnesiac and Chronic Pain sufferer through his blogRonovanWrites.WordPress.com. His love of poetry, authors and community through his online world has lead to a growing Weekly Haiku Challenge and the creation of a site dedicated to book reviews, interviews and author resources known asLitWorldInterviews.WordPress.com.

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Ronovan Hester is an author, with a debut historical adventure novel Amber Wake: Gabriel Falling now on available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle.
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He shares his life of problems and triumphs through his blog RonovanWrites.WordPress.com. His love of writing, authors and community through his online world has led to a growing Weekly Haiku Challenge, Weekly Fiction Prompt Challenge, and the creation of a site dedicated to book reviews, interviews and author resources known as LitWorldInterviews.com.
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Brownie points, nice 🙂
The first thing I ever learned how to make was fudge. The aunt who taught me also taught me how to make a gin and 7Up.
I haven’t made fudge in years and I almost never drink, too many calories 🙂
Sorry, rattled on a bit there. Enjoy the fudge 🙂

Easy fudge. Can of condensed milk, 24 oz of milk chocolate chips, combine, microwave for one minute ONLY. Stir until thick, you’ll know when. Turn out into a pan, chill for about an hour-two hours checking for what you like. Done. 🙂 Not gourmet, but a good base to start with. And anyone can do it. Including an 11 year old boy I call “B”.

Loved your post. I don’t eat junk food. But I would change the definition of comfort food into food that taste so damn good it fills you with joy. My partner cooks the best meals. I make my lunches and have a cereal & milk breakfast. I don’t eat enough. I forget and food though of good quality upsets my system. Even when it’s not processed my body battles every inch of the way sometimes. I seem to get better at times with the eating. Pot sometimes helps the food go down. I am legal. Even have a license to toke. It’s what keeps me as healthy as it is able. I do on occasion want something sweet. That is my only indulgence. Lemon tarts. Lemon bars. And cupcakes. Not often. And the occasional piece of candy like a Reese’s Peanutbutter cup. That’s as far as stray from the good diet. Salt is a must & so is mayo. But otherwise, I am told to eat and it is good food, not processed. And I don’t remember the last time I went to a fast-food restaurant or had a whopper. A homemade turkey burger or cheeseburger with beef lettuce tomato onion mayo & ketchup is the best tasting food one can put in one’s mouth. I also love Dreamfield Pasta with whatever homemade sauce my partner wants to make. Love clam sauce or red sauce. It’s late and this is almost making me hungry. I want to add I love and adore Audrey Hepburn and have seen pretty much all of her films. She is Divine. All should know her. I have favorites are Breakfast at Tiffany’s & They All Laughed & Charade. But there are others I love as well. Good to know you love her too Ronovan. Happy Food Consumption. Enjoy it. I’m trying to. jk 😀

Great post Ronovan. Homemade food gives less problems for the body.
I do know that the microwave is very used in many families, but try to search, what is happening with the food, when cooked in microwave. I haven’t used it for more than 25 years for same reason.

I like the way food tastes. If it doesn’t taste good, in the garbage disposal. Because of diabetes, an autoimmune disease, I’ve learned to eat in moderation and follow the plan of more fruit and veggies. It’s a good thing I love veggies! Edwina, I saw a movie on Netflix, Vatel, that you would enjoy. The movie features Vatel, who is in charge of preparing for a 3 day visit from King Louis XIV. The food preparation is second to the plot, political intrigue, but fascinating.

🙂 There is a documentary that may still be on netflix called Food Matters that I liked a lot. A lot of great information and reinforced some views I had on food, the body and how God intended us. Not that the documentary was in way intended for that.

Love me the comfort of all that I cook! After years of using food to feed my emotions, I have found the world of food feeding my body! Enjoy your exploration, for I know it will lead you to a happier existence within your own body. ❤

I could;t agree with you more, but oh dear, I feel a bit bad now for writing that Audrey Hepburn post a while back. I think you liked it but I had no idea she was a goddess to you. I may repost it.

I can’t cook, but I am so glad John can. However, I have to always add salt to my chips (Fries to all you people in the States). I think we’ve already done that one between us. Home made chilli for me this evening. Some really great quotes in your post that really make you think.

Hi Ron! I love your quote. I believe it 100%. One of my new year resolutions for 2015 was to cook more and so far I’ve been cooking up a storm. There’s something very gratifying about knowing exactly what you’re putting into your body. I love comfort foods too and I’ve found ways to make some of them so that they’re actually good for you. Getting in the kitchen and cooking something for yourself with the fresh, healthy ingredients you bought or grew is the best thing anyone can do for themselves. Great post! 😀

Thank you. 🙂 Since my accident I am not allowed to cook very often but I’ve always been the chef of the family. It’s perhaps one of the biggest losses I’ve experienced. I still create recipes in my mind and visualize what they look like and what they might taste like. But no one else has the desire or ability in the house to do those things. It’s an eat for life existence now.

I know what you mean about all the processed foods, etc. Ronovan. On this trip I have been eating fast food. Yuck! I am paying for it. Sometimes it just is the only way to go. I am back on salads tomorrow. LOL! ❤